Kosovo closes biggest border crossing after Serbian protesters block roads

Kosovo closed its biggest border crossing — the Merdare entry point — on Wednesday, after protesters blocked it on the Serbian side to support their ethnic kin in Kosovo in refusing to recognize the country's independence. With two other crossings on the Serbian border closed by similar protests on their Kosovar sides since Dec. 10, only three entry points between the two countries remain open.

The latest protest came hours after Serbia said it had put its army on the highest level of alert following weeks of escalating tensions between Belgrade and Pristina. Serbs in Serbia used a truck and tractors on Tuesday to create the latest roadblock, close to the Merdare crossing on Kosovo's eastern border, Belgrade-based media reported. The obstruction is preventing thousands of Kosovars who work elsewhere in Europe from returning home for holidays.

The government in Pristina has asked NATO's peacekeeping force for the country, Kosovo Force (KFOR), to clear the barricades but KFOR has no authority to act on Serbian soil. On Wednesday, Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti said that time was "certainly running out fast" and that “Putting barricades on the road is illegal.”

Tensions between Belgrade and Pristina have been running high since last month, when representatives of ethnic Serbs in the north of Kosovo left state institutions including the police and judiciary over the Kosovo government's decision to replace Serbian-issued car license plates.

#GlobalNews #Serbia #Kosovo

[drenthedesigner]

It's always funny to hear Serbia & local serbs claims that there is injustice towards them and the blame is towards Kurti. They don't pay taxes, electricity or water. Albanians pay the bills for them and when Kurti wants for everyone in Kosovo to be equal they start making protests and blocking roads. That seems unfair to me

[csnoor]

Sad News for humanity 😢 💔.

Love and affection ❤ for Kosovo 🇽🇰 from Bangladesh 🇧🇩 ❤ ♥ 💖

[Medolino]

Country's who did not recognize Kosovo:
1. Algeria

2. Angola

3. Argentina

4. Azerbaijan

5. The Bahamas

6. Belarus

7. Bhutan

8. Bolivia

9. Bosnia and Herzegovina

10. Botswana

11. Brazil

12. Venezuela

13. Vietnam

14. Georgia

15. Greece

16. Guatemala

17. DPR Korea

18. DR Congo

19. Ecuador

20. Equatorial Guinea

21. Eritrea

22. Ethiopia

23. Zambia

24. Zimbabwe

25. India

26. Indonesia

27. Iran

28. Iraq

29. Jamaica

30. Armenia

31. South Africa

32. South Sudan

33. Cape Verde

34. Cambodia

35. Cameroon

36. Kazakhstan

37. Kenya

38. China

39. Cyprus

40. Kyrgyzstan

41. Republic of Congo

42. Cuba

43. Laos

44. Lebanon

45. Small

46. ​​Mauritius

47. Mexico

48. Moldova

49. Mongolia

50. Morocco

51. Mozambique

52. Myanmar

53. Namibia

54. Nepal

55. Nicaragua

56. Nigeria

57. Paraguay

58. Romania

59. Russia

60. Rwanda

61. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

62. Sao Tome and Principe**** (7.1.2013)

63. Seychelles

64. Slovakia

65. Solomon Islands**** (28.11.2018)

66. Serbia

67. Sudan

68. Suriname**** (27.10.2017)

69. Syria

70. Tajikistan

71. Trinidad and Tobago

72. Tunisia

73. Turkmenistan

74. Uganda

75. Ukraine

76. Uruguay

77. Uzbekistan

78. Philippines

79. Chile

80. Spain

81. Sri Lanka

82. Holy See*

83. Palestine*

84. Burundi**** (15.2.2018)

85. Liberia**** (20.6.2018)

86. Papua New Guinea****(29.6.2018)

87. Lesotho**** (16.10.2018)

88. Commonwealth of Dominica****(2.11.2018)

89. Grenada**** (4.11.2018)

90. Union of Chambers**** (7.11.2018)

91. Madagascar**** (5.12.2018)

92. Palau**** (17.1.2019)

93. CAR****(26.7.2019)

94. Togo****(28.6.2019)

95. Ghana****(7.11.2019)

96. Nauru****(22.11.2019)

97. Sierra Leone****(2.3.2020)

[johnz]

Why not let them go for a referendum deciding whether to stay within Kosovo or join Serbia, in the way how Kosovo became independent?

[Quisto]

There will be wars and rumours of wars. This is the beginning of the pangs of distress.

[MrKenng]

Looks like Doomsday is coming. Let's buy some popcorn and watch the End of the World show.

[carlfortin]

Looks like a trucker convoy! Excited to watch my defense stocks this year

[ahmeddiagne]

Balkans are very good neighbours nowadays to Muslims, and these areas are those among the most famous for hosting Muslim people.

Politics must not bring problems in this region while we saw what they did to some already.

[jay.powerstroke]

Trudeau called them and suggested the emergencies act

[wmpmacm]

This problem started in the 1920's with the artificial setting up of Yugoslavia. Religious differences coupled with territorial claims in the Balkans snd more keeps the argument of who owns what land there. It is an old problem due to the ethnic, religious, and the breaking up of several "empires" and left overs from numerous population shifts. wish they could settle their differences peacefully. Russia's actions don't help as it is Serbia's "Big Brother" as an Eastern Orthodox country. See...religion and politics...not good for peace on earth.

[goranstojic]

The real truth and the biggest problem of the Balkans is that once they were all the same people, they were Serbs (the vast majority). During the occupation of the Balkans by the Ottomans and later by the Auto-Hungarians and the Fascists, Serbs were forcibly rechristened as Albanians (Shkadar), their names and surnames were changed - rechristened as Muslims (Bosniaks), many rechristened Serbs became Croats and the biggest haters of Serbs (there are videos and evidence)--
Now those people who are crucified hate Serbs the most.

[wmpmacm]

Serbia is back with its insistence that only Serbia should be in charge. This goes back to the formation of Yugoslavia.

[haristhebosniaklion]

Just one question I have.Would the Serbs like it if we Bosniaks were little devils also and did to their women and young girls what they did to thousands of Bosniak women and young girls during the aggression on Bosnia

[gj]

Vojvodina also whant out from serbian regime ! Peace to Kosovo Republic ❤